A few Everton fans have been reacting on social media to reports by Alan Myers, claiming the representatives of LOSC Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes have flown to England to hold talks over a potential summer transfer.
Gabriel’s agents are believed to be holding talks with two Premier League sides over a potential move to England this summer, with it suggested that Everton and Manchester United are both keen on the 22-year-old.
Lille are expected to demand around €30million (£27m) for the Brazilian if he is to leave the Stade Pierre Mauroy this summer, where Gabriel started 23 of his 24 Ligue 1 appearances before the French domestic season was cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Everton and Manchester United are not alone in courting the U23 international, as reports in Italy have suggested SSC Napoli have an option to purchase Gabriel but are first having to wait to raise funds from the expected sale of Kalidou Koulibaly.
Without the sale of some of their prized assets, Napoli cannot match the offer allegedly placed by Everton – said to be Lille’s full €30m asking price – and are having to wait to see if Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool come in for Koulibaly after Bournemouth accepted Manchester City’s £41m offer for Nathan Ake.
Some Everton fans are hoping Myers’ claims of Gabriel’s agents meeting with two Premier League sides includes sitting down for talks with Toffees Director of Football Marcel Brands, and that it leads to the Brazilian joining Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for next term.
Gabriel, who emerged as a target for Everton back during the January market, helped Lille achieve their fourth-place Ligue 1 finish with a role in 11 clean sheets thanks to an average of 1.7 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 3.3 clearances, 50.8 accurate passes (82%) and 6.3 duels won (67%) per game, according to Sofa Score data.
I’ll go for this beast https://t.co/TZWcYMLecL
— DAM (@guaslackjack) August 1, 2020
Love to have the lad at the club. Would be a very good asset.
— Peter Papadopoulos (@PeterPapadopo11) August 1, 2020
News of Manchester United’s interest alongside Gabriel’s agents being in England for talks has also led some Everton fans to believe the Brazilian will be heading to Old Trafford rather than Goodison Park.
A move to the Red Devils would see Gabriel compete in the Champions League next season after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side wrapped up the Premier League campaign in third-place, whilst Everton would be seen more as a project after finishing the term down in 12th.
United it is then. https://t.co/lRodWiqX03
— Eideáin (@glioriginali_) July 31, 2020
He wants to be a starter and United can give him that and European football, move on to the next target https://t.co/UntAZufSca
— Adam (@elyodx) July 31, 2020
What a few Everton fans hope will aid their side’s efforts is that Gabriel may not be assured as many minutes on the field at Manchester United as he would at Goodison Park, as Solskjaer regularly favoured Harry Maguire (38 starts) and Victor Lindelof (35 starts) during the 2019/20 Premier League season.
Won’t get regular football at United
— Shaun TheCat Weldon (@shaun_weldo1981) August 1, 2020
I’ve heard MU is smokescreen to push up price as much as possible.
— Scott Ginnett (@sginnett) July 31, 2020